Things We Lost in the Fire

26. Defending Your Life

EXT. DEARBORN, MICHIGAN – NIGHT

A man was running through the streets, chased by a car. He ducked into a laneway while the car continued along the road, and stood breathing heavily and clutched his chest. He looked behind him and saw nothing. When he turned around again, the car was facing him.

"That's impossible," the man said.

The car accelerated towards the man. He turned and ran, with the car close behind. He entered the door of an apartment building, ran up the stairs to at least the 9th floor and let himself in to an apartment, where he leaned against a wall panting.

"You're okay, you're okay," the man told himself. "Oh, you're okay."

The man heard the sound of an engine revving and turned in alarm. The car accelerated towards him and crushed him against the wall.

"No!"

EXT. DEARBORN, MICHIGAN – DAY

Sam, Penelope and Dean pulled up to a crime scene and got out of the Impala.

Lucifer, in Sam's mind, called, "Sam."

Sam pressed his right thumb into his left hand.

"Feels wonky," Dean said.

"What?" Sam asked.

"Working a regular job."

"Bobby or Dad'll call if anything flares up on the Leviathan front," Penelope reminded them.

Sam nodded. "In the meantime, you know you want to work this case, Dean. Cop on the wire sounded dumbfounded."

"No arguments," Dean agreed. "It's kind of nice, you know? We're due for a little cut and dry. And, uh..."

Sam, Penelope and Dean held up FBI badges and a policeman let them through the "Do Not Cross" line.

"You seem good," Dean finished.

"I am," Sam replied. "For me. By the way... Thank you."

"For?"

"Amy. I know you didn't want to let her go, but it was the right thing to do. So, thanks."

"No problem."

Penelope glanced at Dean with a frown. What had he done? She shook her head, brushing the thought away. They had a job to do, and she intended to focus on that.

INT. MAN'S APARTMENT – DAY

Sam, Penelope and Dean showdd their IDs again and ducked under another "Do Not Cross" line.

"Welcome to Crazytown, population – one dead guy," the detective said.

"Who was he?" Sam asked.

"Uh, Matthew Hammond. Seems to have been crushed to death."

"By?" Dean and Penelope questioned.

"Well, if we weren't on the tenth floor, I'd say by a car."

A police photographer took a picture of a bloodstained brick wall with a hole knocked through it. Sam took out his EMF reader.